2021 - My Top 10 of Mainly Ancients (Part 1)

Saw quite a few posts of people doing their top 10s for 2021 and it struck me, it’s almost that time of the year again. It has been a tough year with coin prices going through the roof and Bitcoin millionaires diversifying their profits, it hasn’t been easy to find nice coins at sensible prices.

Since I collect both Ancients and Moderns, please excuse the intrusion of the odd modern (I promise I have excluded most of them).

I also managed to upgrade my Avatar coin with an MS64+ example (2nd highest graded) which is an ex Spink and ex Mildenhall Collection example. With a mintage of 932, these are very rare and I’m pleased I could display it as my Avatar on CT.

All the text in italics is attributable to the auctioneers.


1. Italy - Venice ND (c.1771-73)-MAT Gold Striking of Scudo della Croce (140 Soldi) in the Weight of 12 Zecchini of Doge Alvise Mocenigo IV ICG MS-61 (AGW = 1.3217 oz.)

KM-Pn181; Gamberini-1644.

Seldom offered and very rare large size gold striking similar in essence to a pattern or trial strike. In a very pleasing state of preservation. Nicely struck showing only some minor doubling of letters and bold devices throughout, impressive on a piece of this diameter. The surfaces show no signs of mal-treatment or efforts at improvement giving a very wholesome and original appearance. The fields show little in the way of signs of contact or handling and certainly no marks large enough to be considered detracting.

Previously sold uncertified in Hess Divo Auction 238.
An impulse buy....just couldn’t resist.




2. Ancient Bosporus Kingdom, Asander as King (c.47-16 B.C.) Year 8 (c.40-39 B.C.) AV Stater (8.21gms)
Pantikapaion Mint NGC MS Strike 4/5 Surface 3/5 (Ex: Dr. L. A. Adams Collection)
Diademed head right; Reverse: Nike standing left on prow holding wreath and palm frond.

Asander is thought to have lived into his 90s and went into battle up to the end. He starved himself to death when one of his most trusted generals betrayed him. Apparently the highest graded of only two known staters for this reginal year.





3. Ancient Bithynia, Calchedon, c.Late 3rd Century B.C. AV Stater (8.48gms)


Diademed head of Alexander III wearing horn of Ammon right; Reverse: Athena seated left holding Nike, bull butting left in exergue.

Always wanted to have an Alexander III stater so couldn’t resist this seldom offered one from Bithynia in very nice grade (Ch AU 4 & 4).





4. KINGS of ARMENIA MINOR. Aristoboulos, with Salome. AD 54-92. Æ (20mm, 6.53 g, 11h). Dated RY 13 (AD 66/7). BACIΛEΩC APICTOBOYΛOY ET IΓ.

Salome, Daughter of Herodias Cited by Josephus Antiquities 18.5

Diademed and draped bust of Aristobulus left / BACIΛIC-CHC CAΛ[O]MHC, diademed and draped bust of Salome left. Meshorer 365 corr. (date); Hendin 1257a; Kovacs 300; RPC I 3840 corr. (same). Earthen green patina, edge chip. VF. Clear date.

Salome is described in the Gospels (Matthew 14 and Mark 6) only as the daughter of Herodias, who asked Herod Antipas for the head of John the Baptist in return for his daughter’s risqué dance for the king. Salome’s name is supplied by Josephus in Antiquities 18.5, where he also informs us that she grew up to marry her great-uncle Philip the Tetrarch and, after Philip’s death, her cousin Aristoboulos, who is featured on the obverse of this coin and with whom Salome had three sons. Aristoboulos was the son of Herod V of Chalkis and great grandson of Herod I, and was appointed king of Armenia Minor in the first year of Nero’s reign.

The present issue was struck in 66/7 CE (year 13 of Aristoboulos’ reign), the first year of the Jewish war and around 40 years since the execution of John the Baptist, which has been tentatively dated to some time between 25 and 29 CE. Hendin (5th ed., p. 275) suggests that Aristoboulos struck this issue for propagandistic and political purposes, in the first year of the war, as a show of loyalty to Rome and his patron Nero.

When RPC was published, citing three known examples of this type, the date was off the flan on two pieces and the one example with partial date had been tentatively read as date Α or Η (RPC p. 570). Frank Kovacs subsequently discovered an example with a clear date 13 (Hendin p. 275, pl. 24, same obverse die as the present coin), and Kovacs’ opinion was that other reported dates were most likely mis-readings of that date. The publication of additional specimens has since confirmed Kovacs’ opinion, and it is now clear that all coins of this type are dated year 13.

I think I was fortunate to acquire a brace of these very historically significant issues.






5. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt

Cleopatra VII Thea Neotera Æ 19mm. Orthoseia, dated Phoenician RY 2 = 36/5 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / Ba'al of Orthoseia driving biga drawn by griffins to right; OPΘΩCIEΩN below, LB (date) to left. RPC I 4501; DCA 600; HGC 10, 210. 8.21g, 19mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Rare.

I’ve tried to find out more about this coin without too much success. VCoins had an XF example which they sold and described as a very rare date. CNG sold a VF example in their Triton X auction (2007) for quite a handsome amount so I can’t complain if my example turns out to be a VF as well.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

very nice!

 

All beautiful! Are there any photos of nos. 2 and 3 out of their slabs? In these photos I find it a little difficult to see all the details, which I would love to be able to do.

 

I'm always scared of breaking them out of their slabs because I'm scared of damaging historical heritage. I agree with you Donna, the quality of the photos of this particular auction house leaves a lot to be desired.

 

Fantastic coins. Putting the Salome coin on my wish list.

 

Very nice pickups, @1934 Wreath Crown.

I understand why your #1 is an impulse buy. It is a wonderful coin!
#2 and #3 are cool gold coins also. #5 is griffin-drawn biga. Nice!

Looking forward to your other 5 coins.

 

1934 W. Crown, Your massive Venetian Scudo della Croce is a museum piece ! I'll bet NGC would grade it better than MS61 .

 

Nice pickups! I like #3 the best of this group but your 2nd post with the next 5 is even better!

 

Thank you Sir. That was my first impression when I saw the photos and compared them with similar coins graded by NGC. I don't think one can judge a 250 year old hammered coin on today's standards of minting or even that of older milled coins. I completely agree with you, it seems to be hugely under-graded.

Let's hope NGC do it credit (MS63-64??) along with my Gothic Crown which will be submitted for crossover.

 

1934 W. Crown, I understand the gist of what you are saying & agree with your grade assessment , but seriously doubt this coin was "hammered" . The coin is too large, too flat, & the die impressions too perfect to be struck by hand. Experiments with machine-made coinage began in Italy by the end of the 15th century, & by the beginning of the Baroque Period nearly all the European countries were using a screw-press or roller-dies to make impressions on large coins. Your coin appears to be made on a screw-press, so technically speaking it isn't struck, the die impressions are squeezed into the flan. This machinery was operated by men or animals until the use of hydraulic presses became common in the 19th century.

 

What do you reckon it might grade at? I'm hoping for a 63 and praying for better.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head with MS63 or MS64 . It's impossible to judge the luster on a slabbed coin photo. A video of the coin while rotating it might give you a better guess.

 

If I get any of those grades, I owe you a beer

 

Very impressive!! 2021 was a great year for your collection! I hope 2022 treats you well.

 

The great psychic Alibaba sees an NGC grade of MS63 or MS64, so that beer sounds like a good idea.

 

I agree with @Al Kowsky that the Venetian trial strike was probably rendered by a screw press - it does not have the gestalt of a hammered coin. It's a tremendous and enviable acquisition, but I find the discussion of MS grade points non sequiter. How many of these even exist? Enough to adequately compare them to the degree that a difference between 63 and 64 could be discerned? I doubt it. It seems to me that applying MS points to a type like this is altogether using the wrong measuring stick.

 

Just curious, not a criticism: why does it matter to you? Because it would increase the resale value should you ever decide to do so?

 

(Combining response to your split threads)

Fantastic coins, @1934 Wreath Crown! My favorites are the Cleopatras and the Asander.

Try searching on ACsearch with only "orthoseia" (leave off Cleopatra). You'll get more hits of the type (~18, with a duplicate or two).

 

Some great coins - hard for me to look past #2 & #3!

ATB,
Aidan.

 

Excellent coins Najib!!!!!!!

I would pick as my favorite # 1
The Venetian 12 Zecchini from Alvise Mocenigo IV is very rare and beautifull. The Venetian Doges struck a wide variety of Zecchini from Quarter Z to massive 105 Zecchini! The Asander AV Stater is my second pick.
Congratulations on a fine 2021campaign.
At least the Venetians put their trust into gold rather then this fantasy BITCOIN/ which has nothing backing it.